Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(94): "Ruling on Cancelling A Waqf"

Date Added : 28-10-2015

 

Resolution No.(94) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: 

“Ruling on Cancelling A Waqf“

Date: 3/8/1426 AH, corresponding to 7/9/2005 AD.

 

 

 

Question:

 

I want to take back a piece of land that I have endowed to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Sites since my children are living  with me and I have no other property that they can benefit from after my death?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board has reviewed the Waqf certificate, and after researching and deliberating, it determined that taking back the aforementioned Waqf (endowment) isn`t permissible because Waqf becomes binding once it is concluded, and this is the view of the majority of the Muslim scholars. However, Abu Hanifah believes that a Waqf becomes binding once a judge rules so, or if the person who endows says that it is an endowment effective after my death {a will}. Amongst the evidences that a Waqf is binding and can`t be cancelled are:

 

1- Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him."

[Muslim]. Muslims scholars have interpreted” A continuous charity “ as Waqf, and a Waqf can only be a continuous charity once it is binding and can`t be disposed of; otherwise, the meaning of continuity won`t be fulfilled.

2- Ibn Omar (May Allah Be Pleased with both of them) narrated: "When `Umar got a piece of land in Khaibar, he came to the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "I have got a piece of land, better than which I have never got. So what do you advise me regarding it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If you wish you can keep it as an endowment to be used for charitable purposes." So, `Umar gave the land in charity (i.e. as an endowment on the condition that the land would neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, (and its yield) would be used for the poor, the kinsmen, the emancipation of slaves, Jihad, and for guests and travelers; and its administrator could eat in a reasonable just manner, and he also could feed his friends without intending to be wealthy by its means." {Bukhari & Muslim}. In the narration of Bukhari: “Give it in charity (i.e. as an endowment) with its land and trees on the condition that the land and trees will neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, but the fruits are to be spent in charity.“ This narration indicates that since the land and trees can neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, this applies to the Waqf, in disagreement with the opinion of Abu Hanifah. Abu Yousef { A scholar in Islamic jurisprudence} said:  "Had this Hadith reached Abu Hanifah, he would have adopted it and revoked selling a Waqf."

3- Article three of the justice law states: “ Once the Waqf is concluded in its valid form, the endower`s ownership of it ceases, and the Waqf certificate becomes binding and can`t be cancelled, and the one/ones to whom it is endowed, or others can`t sell, give as a present, mortgage, or bequeath , and this is what a Waqf includes.

4- The judge or the ruler enjoys the authority of settling such dispute” in line with the provisions of the law and keeping the endowed estate as such. On its part, the Jordanian law has stipulated this in clause (A), Article (1243): “After the Waqf is concluded, it can`t be given as a present, bequeathed, or mortgaged, and it gets out of the endower`s possession, and can`t be possessed by others.” And the same point is stated in article (1159) where it reads: “There is neither preemption in Waqf (Shufa`h) nor annexation. “And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

 

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izzaldeen Al-Tamimi

Dr. AbdulMajeed Al-Salaheen

Dr. Yousef Ghyzaan

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

Dr. Abdukareem Al-Khasawneh

Sheikh Sae`id Hijjawi

Sheikh Nae`im Mujahid

Decision Number [ Previous | Next ]


Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on entering the toilet with something containing the remembrance of Allah?

It is disliked to bring into the toilet anything containing a reminder of Allah, such as the Quran or a sacred name (like the name of Allah, Muhammad, etc.). If one does that, etiquette dictates that he conceal it so it is not visible while entering the toilet, either by cupping his hands over it, putting it in his pocket, or inside his shirt if it is a necklace or ring. And Allah  the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on selling gold or silver in installments or for a differed price?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is prohibited (haram) to sell gold or silver in installments or for a deferred price; rather, immediate hand-to-hand exchange (Taqabud) is mandatory, otherwise, it is considered usury (Riba). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt—like for like, hand to hand. Whoever increases or asks for an increase has engaged in Riba; the receiver and the giver are the same in this regard.' (Narrated by Muslim). Furthermore, when exchanging new gold for used gold, they must be of equal weight, or it falls into Riba.
 
The permissible solution (al-makhraj) is for the merchant to purchase the used gold for cash first, and then sell the new gold for cash in a separate transaction. However, the price must be paid during the sitting of the contract (Majlis al-Aqd) for both deals. Alternatively, the jeweler may take the used gold with the intent of remodeling or repairing it, and then charge a fee for the craftsmanship or repair work. And Allah the Exalted knows best."

I have a brother who is harsh in his dealings [with me], and many problems have occurred between us, and I do not intend to reconcile with him. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on that?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to abandon or boycott his fellow Muslim brother for more than three days. This is based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "It is not lawful for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three [days], meeting each other but one turns away and the other turns away, and the better of the two is the one who initiates the greeting (salam)." (Reported by al-Bukhari.)
A Muslim must strive to end such estrangement (hajr), so as not to fall under the prohibition mentioned in the hadith. If he takes the initiative to reconcile but the other party does not respond, then there is no sin upon him. We remind [ourselves] of the saying of Allah, the Exalted: "And let them pardon and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (An-Nur/22). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is the Saying "Whatever is Taken by the Sword of Shyness is Forbidden" an Authentic Ḥadīth?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The saying "Whatever is taken by the sword of shyness is forbidden" is not an authentic ḥadīth, though its underlying meaning is sound. The established sharʿī principle is that a Muslim's wealth is not lawful for anyone to take except with his wholehearted consent, as Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Al-Nisā/ 29] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Listen to me and you will live well: do not wrong others, do not wrong others, do not wrong others. Indeed, a man's wealth is not lawful except with his full, willing consent." (Reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.) Whatever is taken through the pressure of shyness or social embarrassment runs directly counter to genuine, wholehearted consent.
The jurists have explicitly stated that whatever is taken by means of the "sword of shyness" carries the same ruling as that which is taken by coercion — it must be returned to its rightful owner.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states in al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā (Vol.3/P.30): "Do you not see the reported scholarly consensus that whoever has something taken from him purely out of shyness, without his genuine consent, does not pass ownership of it to the one who took it? They reasoned that this constitutes a form of coercion through the 'sword of shyness,' comparable to coercion at the point of an actual sword. Indeed, many people would rather submit to the literal sword and endure the pain of its wound than submit to this first kind of coercion, out of fear for their dignity and standing — which people of sound judgment hold dear and guard most fiercely." And Allah the Almighty knows best.